Chapter 14. The Perfect Tense

Pyrrhus, Pyrrhī (2m): Pyrrhus of Epirus. Est interfectus is the third person masculine singular perfect passive form of interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum (3, –iō): to kill.

Acceptus (est) is the third person masculine singular perfect passive form of accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum (3, –iō): to receive, accept, take. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Est: is (part of a phrase with acceptus). #(see acceptus)% Urbem is the accusative singular form of urbs, urbis (3f): city. Tyrannus, tyrannī (2m): tyrant.

Multī is the masculine nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Vīvī is the masculine nominative plural form of vīvus/vīva/vīvum (1/2): alive. Captī is the masculine nominative plural form of captus/capta/captum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (having been taken) of capiō, capere, cēpī, captum (3, –iō): to take, seize; receive. Herdōnius, Herdōniī (2m): the name of a Sabine who led an uprising against Rome. Interfectus /interfecta/interfectum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle (having been slain, killed) of interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum (3, –iō): to kill. This example illustrates how esse can be omitted from the perfect passive. The meaning is the same as if it were multī vīvī captī sunt, Herdōnius interfectus est, but sunt and est are left implied.

Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, declare. Ab /ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Horātiō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of the family name Horātius/Horātia/Horātium (1/2). Sorōrem is the accusative singular form of soror, sorōris (3f): sister. Suam is the feminine accusative singular form of suus/sua/suum (1/2): his (own). Interfectam is the feminine accusative singular form of interfectus/interfecta/interfectum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (having been killed, murdered) of interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum (3, –iō): to kill, murder. That means the same as dīcō ab Horātiō sorōrem suam interfectam esse —literally, I say his own sister to be having been killed by Horatius.

Peccō, peccāre, peccāvī, peccātum (1): to sin, do wrong. (Charles Napier, an officer in the British army, was ordered in 1842 to subdue rebels in the Sindh Province in India. He went further and conquered the province. Punch magazine published a counterfeit one-word message from Napier to his superiors: Peccavi. It was a pun: once translated into English as I have sinned, it sounded like I have Sindh.)

(He’s talking about someone who stood at the rostrum in the Roman forum, where Cicero’s head and hands were mounted.) Hīc (adv.): here. Suprā (prep.): over, above (takes the accusative). Cicerōnem is the accusative singular form of Cicerō, Cicerōnis (3m): Cicero. Stetistī is the second person singular perfect form of stō, stāre, stetī, statum (1): to stand; remain.

Numquam (adv.): never. Dubitāvit is the third person singular perfect form of dubitō, dubitāre, dubitāvī, dubitātum (1): to doubt; hesitate.

Numquid (interrog. particle) (a strengthened num): creates a question, often with the expected answer no, but sometimes just conveying some tentativeness, as here. Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. Errāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of errō, errāre, errāvī, errātum (1): to err; wander; go astray.

Obsidēs is the accusative plural form of obses, obsidis (3m/f): hostage. Porsenae is the dative singular form of Porsena, Porsenae (1m): Porsena—an Etruscan king against whom Rome fought a war. Dedistis is the second person plural perfect form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give.

Pugnāvērunt is the third person plural perfect form of pugnō, pugnāre, pugnāvī, pugnātum (1): to fight. Contrā (prep.): against (takes the accusative). Eum is the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.

Mēscidium is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of the family name Mēscidius/Mēscidia/Mēscidium (1/2). Mēcum: with me (mē = me; cum = with). Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.

Pīrātam is the accusative singular form of pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate. Vīvum is the m/n accusative singular form of vīvus/vīva/vīvum (1/2): alive. Tenuistī is the second person singular perfect form of teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum (2): to hold; keep.

Hostīlium is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of the family name Hostīlius/Hostīlia/Hostīlium (1/2); here it refers to a Roman consul in the second century bc. Intentius (adv.): more intently; rather intently—the comparative form of intentē (adv.): intently. Monuit is the third person singular perfect form of moneō, monēre, monuī, monitum (2): to warn; advise; remind.

Docuimus is the first person plural perfect form of doceō, docēre, docuī, doctum (2): to teach; demonstrate. Illud is the neuter accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it; the former.

Vīdistis is the second person plural perfect form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Hominem is the accusative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): human, man. Īnsānum is the m/n accusative singular form of īnsānus/īnsāna/īnsānum (1/2): mad.

Stetērunt is the third person plural perfect form of stō, stāre, stetī, statum (1): to stand. Neque/ nec: (as conj.) and not, nor; (as adv.) neither, not either, not even. Ultrā (adv.): beyond, farther; besides. Respondērunt is the third person plural perfect form of respondeō, respondēre, respondī, respōnsum (2): to respond; answer.

Numquam (adv.): never. Ego: I. Fortūnae is the dative singular form of fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune. Crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to believe; trust (the thing believed to be true goes in the accusative case; the person who—or, occasionally, the thing that—is trusted or believed goes in the dative case).

Plūrimōs is the masculine accusative plural form of plūrimus/plūrima/plūrimum (1/2): very much, very many—the superlative form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Occidistī is the second person singular perfect form of occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsum (3): to kill.

(In debate, something asserted without argument or support is called an ipse dixit. It originally just meant an appeal to authority: the master (Pythagoras) said it.) Ipse /ipsa/ipsum (pron.): (he) himself, (she) herself, (it) itself. Dīxit is the third person singular perfect form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.

Abiit is the third person singular perfect form of abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum (irreg.): to depart, go away. Excessit is the third person singular perfect form of excēdō, excēdere, excessī, excessum (3): to go away, depart, leave; exceed. Ēvāsit is the third person singular perfect form of ēvādō, ēvādere, ēvāsī, ēvāsum (3): to escape. Ērūpit is the third person singular perfect form of ērumpō, ērumpere, ērūpī, ēruptum (3): to break out.

Sī (conj.): if. Id is the neuter accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Dīcis is the second person singular form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Vīcimus is the first person plural perfect form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, overcome; win, be victorious.

Nōstis is the second person plural perfect form of nōscō, nōscere, nōvī, nōtum (3): to come to know (a syncopated form of nōvistis; perfect forms of this verb typically have the meaning of the present tense know). Domus, domūs (2/4f): house, home. Nostrae is the feminine genitive singular form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Lēgem is the accusative singular form of lēx, lēgis (3f): law, rule, principle.

Quōs is the masculine accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Laesērunt is the third person plural perfect form of laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum (3): to hurt, injure. Et (adv.): also, too; even. Ōdērunt is the third person plural form of ōdī, ōdisse, ōsum (irreg.): to hate (perfect forms have present meaning).

(He’s saying that Stoicism isn’t as hard as it sounds.) Dēnique (adv.): finally, at last; in short, to sum up; besides. Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Umquam (adv.): ever, at any time. Ista is the neuter nominative plural form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that, this. Dēstituēre is the third person plural perfect form of dēstituō, dēstituere, dēstituī, dēstitūtum (3): to set down; abandon, forsake; let down, fail (it could also have been dēstituērunt). Temptantem is the m/f accusative singular form of temptāns, temptantis (3)—the present active participle (see Chapter 38) of temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum (1—also tentō): to test; try, attempt.

(The message said to have been sent by Caesar to the Roman Senate to describe his battle against King Pharnaces II of Pontus near Zela (in modern Turkey) in 47 bc.) Veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, overcome; win, be victorious.

Neque /nec (conj.): and not, nor; (adv.): not; neither, not either, not even (neque. . . neque: neither. . . nor). Audīstī is the second person singular perfect form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Neque /nec (conj.): nor. Cognōvistī is the second person singular perfect form of cognōscō, cognōscere, cognōvī, cognitum (3): to learn, get to know; recognize.

Quī (interrog. adv.): how? by what means? Tam (adv.): so, so much. Citō (adv.): quickly; soon. Scīvit is the third person singular perfect form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know.

(He’s saying that after we die we’ll probably feel as we did before we were born.) Atquī (conj.): however, yet, still. Nūllam is the feminine accusative singular form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, none, not any. Sēnsimus is the first person plural perfect form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sensum (4): to feel; perceive, notice; think. Tunc (adv.): then. Vexātiōnem is the accusative singular form of vexātiō, vexātiōnis (3f): shaking; discomfort, annoyance, distress, vexation.

Factum is the accusative singular form of factum, factī (2n): fact, act. Dēfendite is the plural imperative form of dēfendō, dēfendere, dēfendī, dēfēnsum (3): to defend. Vestrum is the m/n accusative singular form of vester/vestra/vestrum (1/2): your, yours (it always refers to plural possessors; it’s singular here because the particular form of the adjective agrees with the possessed object— factum, which is singular). Cōnsēnsistis is the second person plural perfect form of cōnsentiō, cōnsentīre, cōnsēnsī, cōnsēnsum (4): to agree, assent. Enim (particle): for; indeed.

Karthāginiēnsēs is the m/f nominative plural form of Karthāginiēnsis/Karthāginiēnsis/Karthāginiēnse (3—also Carthāginiēnsis): Carthaginian. Multī is the masculine nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Rōmae is the locative singular form of Rōma, Rōmae (1f): Rome. Serviērunt is the third person plural perfect form of serviō, servīre, servīvī/serviī, servītum (4): to serve; be a slave.

Domī is the locative form of domus, domūs (2/4f): house, home. Nōn: not. Fuī is the first person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.

Fuistī is the second person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Here (adv.): yesterday. Nōbīscum: with us (nōbīs = us; cum = with).

Ingeniōsus /ingeniōsa/ingeniōsum (1/2): having good natural abilities or talents; clever, gifted. Ille /illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Vir, virī (2m): man; husband. Fuit is the third person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.

Trēs /trēs/tria (3): three. Fuimus is the first person plural perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Omnēs is the m/f nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Peccāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of peccō, peccāre, peccāvī, peccātum (1): to sin, do wrong.

Causa, causae (1f): cause, reason. Mors, mortis (3f): death. Fuistis is the second person plural perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.

Frātrēs is the nominative plural form of frāter, frātris (3m): brother. Meī is the masculine nominative plural form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Fuērunt is the third person plural perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.

Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Dīcī is the passive infinitive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, speak. Meritō (adv.): deservedly, justly, rightly. Dēvorāsse is the perfect infinitive form of dēvorō, dēvorāre, dēvorāvī, dēvorātum (1): to swallow, absorb, consume (a syncopated form of dēvorāvisse). Verba is the accusative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word.

Foedus/foeda/ foedum (1/2): ugly, disgusting, disgraceful. Est: it is. Et (conj.): and (et. . . – que = both. . . and). Mānsisse is the perfect infinitive form of maneō, manēre, mānsī, mānsum (2): to remain; await. Diū (adv.): long, for a long time. Vacuumque: vacuum is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of vacuus/vacua/vacuum (1/2): empty: empty-handed (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Redīsse is the perfect infinitive form of redeō, redīre, rediī, reditum (irreg.): to go back, return.

Dīcēs is the second person singular future form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself). Ēmisse is the perfect infinitive form of emō, emere, ēmī, ēmptum (3): to buy.

Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Nōn: not. Audit could be the third person singular form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; but in this context it’s perhaps more likely to be audīt (note the long i), a rare contracted variant of the third person singular perfect form audīvit/audiit. Audīsse is the perfect infinitive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Sē is the accusative form of the reflexive pronoun. Queritur is the third person singular form of queror, querī, questus sum (3, deponent): to complain.

Fateor, fatērī, fassus sum (2, deponent): to admit, acknowledge. Aliquandō (adv): sometimes; once; finally. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Īnsānum is the m/n accusative singular form of īnsānus/īnsāna/īnsānum (1/2): mad. Fuisse is the perfect infinitive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.

Ego: I. Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Torta sum is the first person feminine singular perfect passive form of torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortum (2): to twist; torture. The speaker is a woman; that’s why it’s torta (feminine) rather than tortus (masculine) or tortum (neuter).

Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Miserōs is the masculine accusative plural form of miser/misera/miserum (1/2): miserable, wretched—an adjective used as a noun. Advocātus es is the second person masculine singular perfect passive form of advocō, advocāre, advocāvī, advocātum (1): to call, summon; call in as a counselor.

(In other words, we’ve passed a point of no return; the dice cube is in the air and can’t be recalled. It’s a Latin version of what Caesar supposedly said in Greek after crossing the Rubicon with his army in defiance of the Senate. Suetonius, in his Life of Caesar, recounts it as iacta alea est, but the phrasing shown above has become common.) Ālea, āleae (1f): die (i.e., half of a pair of dice). Iacta est is the third person feminine singular perfect passive form of iaciō, iacere, iēcī, iactum (3): to throw, cast.

Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative); sometimes also for (the purpose of) —some given object. Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Parātī sumus is the first person masculine plural perfect passive form of parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum (1): to prepare.

Numquid (interrog. particle) (a strengthened form of num): creates a question with the expected answer no, or conveying disbelief or tentativeness (could it be that. . . ?). Et (adv.): also, too; even. Vōs (pron.): you (pl.). Sēductī estis is the second person masculine plural perfect passive form of sēdūcō, sēdūcere, sēdūxī, sēductum (3): to seduce, lead astray, mislead.

Ab /ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Elephantīs is the ablative plural form of elephantus, elephantī (2m): elephant. Obtrītī sunt is the third person masculine plural perfect passive form of obterō, obterere, obtrīvī, obtrītum (3): to crush; trample.

Factum esse is the masculine singular perfect passive infinitive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. (The participle is accusative because it agrees with the accusative subject of the indirect statement, ambitum.) Ambitum is the accusative singular form of ambitus, ambitūs (4m): circuit, circle; bribery. Scītis is the second person plural form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know.

Īnsidiās is the accusative form of īnsidiae, īnsidiārum (1f, plural only): ambush, plot. Factās esse is the feminine plural perfect passive infinitive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. (The participle is accusative because it agrees with the accusative subject of the indirect statement.) Cōnstat is the third person singular form of cōnstō, cōnstāre, cōnstitī, cōnstātūrus (1): to stand together; stand firm; exist; be in agreement with; (impersonal) it is well known, it is established as a fact, it is agreed (that such and such is the case).

Dīcātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of dīco, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Sānē (adv.): soundly; indeed, truly, really; certainly, by all means. Ēiectus esse is the masculine singular perfect passive infinitive form of ēiciō, ēicere, ēiēcī, ēiectum (3, –iō): to expel, thrust out, drive out. (The participle is nominative because it refers to the subject of the main verb dīcātur.) Ab/ ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Mē is the ablative form of ego.

Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Suspicor, suspicārī, suspicātus sum (1, deponent): to suspect.

Mortī is the dative singular form of mors, mortis (3f): death. Nātus es is the second person masculine singular perfect form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born.

Māter, mātris (3f): mother. Mentīta est is the third person feminine singular perfect form of mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum (4, deponent): to lie; say falsely.

(Has been abbreviated as a motto to non nobis solum: not for ourselves alone.) Nōn: not. Nōbīs is the dative form of nōs: we. Sōlum (adv.): just, merely, only. Nātī sumus is the first person masculine plural perfect form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born.

Secūtī estis is the second person masculine plural perfect form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow. Baalīm: the Baals—a Hebrew plural noun borrowed as is (merely transliterated) by the translator.

Prophētae is the nominative plural form of prophēta, prophētae (1m): prophet. Mortuī sunt is the third person masculine plural perfect form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die.